Processes of concept formation involve the establishment of relationships between daily and scientific concepts. Adult mediation and the use of adapted pedagogical resources are seen as important contributors, especially in the case of children with special needs. The present study aimed at the observation and analysis of concept formation in a thematic project about "The Human Body", involving 7-12yr children, with diagnoses of low vision, most of them with other diagnoses of organic problems, and presenting school difficulties. The sessions were filmed, transcribed and analyzed. The analysis of episodes contributed to the understanding of the ways children construct connections between daily and scientific concepts and to the planning of pedagogical resources for children with visual impairments, and highlighted the importance of the group context for child development.
Concept formation; Visual impairment; School difficulties